Lady Canes

While checking out at the main grocery in town, I noticed that all of the baggers were girls in Canes jerseys.  Hayward Schools use Hurricanes as their logo - but most folks and jerseys say just  'canes.  The girls' hockey team was raising money for all their traveling.  They won first for the entire state of Wisconsin last season.   All the girls were slim and blond - didn't look like the usual hockey team.  I put in a few dollars and will be watching the season. 

Grandchild Arrival

Our first Grandchild is a girl.  Her name is Katarzyna Caroline - Kata for short.  Six pounds, 7 ounces and 19 inches long.  She was born on the evening of November 15.  She is a healthy baby which is the most important thing.  Baby's mother Carrie is recovering well and my son Tad seems to be enjoying his new fatherhood status.  We spent several days with them over Thanksgiving.  There is nothing as wonderful as holding a newborn baby.

Toadstool

Still haven't gotten Obama Care.  My grandchild is two days overdue.  So I am sending a photo of the perfect toadstool.

First Snow

Yesterday we had our first snow - just a dusting, but it is cold enough to stick.  My tradition is to make chili on the first snowfall.  It has been 5 1/2 months since the last snow.  (Long pause.) This has been the year of weather records. 

I usually don't put away the kayak and get out my snowshoes in the same week. 

One of Millions

I am one of millions who is trying to obtain ObamaCare through the government website.  It has taken me 3 days to create an account.  Haven't gotten to the application or the premium part yet.  There are so many of us that the site is swamped, taking 90 to 120 seconds per page to load.  The website even said to get off.  Can't help you now.  I have decided to set an alarm for 2 am to see if that time works for the government.  (If this blog site had emoticons, I would use a green face with eyes going around if different directions.)  I am going to get up in the middle of the night next week because I have some things that I don't want to sleep through during the day this week. 

My high risk insurance through the state of Wisconsin will no longer be in existence as of December 31 so the decision to use ObamaCare was not mine.  I feel that having diabetes is punishment enough without all of this business to add to it.  I will blog when I get through to Washington and if it is more or less than my current insurance.

14 Years

We have had a sad week.  One of our lovebirds died on Tuesday.  She had been ill for a while so it wasn't a surprise.  But it certainly still hurt.  I had gotten her for my 44th birthday (bird-day).  Bertram was over 14 years old which is about the life span for this type of bird.  (The bigger the parrot - the longer they live.)  She was the smart, feisty one with a big personality.   Her bird buddy reacted by confusion, anger and now just clingy.  We all need some time.

Case in a Kayak

Case borrowed one from a friend.  We had a great time on the Teal River although he said he used muscles that he doesn't usually use.  I hope that Santa can fit a kayak down the chimney.

Trip to the UP

I took a 3 day trip with my hiking friends to the UP - Upper Peninsula Michigan - Porcupine Mts. area.  Depending upon your prospective...it is called south shore of Lake Superior by Minnesota and Wisconsin folks, but to the Yoopers, it is the north shore.  All in your perspective.  As in life...it is all a matter of perspective.  Sometimes it is difficult to see it from someone else's point of view.  No matter how you look at this scenery... all of it is beautiful.

 Rainbow Falls on the Black River, MI.  Quite a hike to capture this view.

 Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains on a perfect weather day.  There is a small bridge across the river forming this lake.  We hiked down to the bridge.  The view was interesting looking back up to this look out.

Eleven on this trip.  I am right in the middle - 5th from either end.

Peak Colors in the Northwoods

a branch that fell from one tree in our yard

I enjoy these mirror photos in smooth as glass water.

What Northwoods Women Have in Common

All Northwoods women I have met really like moss, lichens, small green growing things.  I am no exception.

 

                               I placed the leaf behind whatever this is to show how small they are.

    spikey moss.  We have lots of this.  It's soft, too.

      I left this original size so you need to scroll around to see all the cool stuff here.

Field of Honor

On September 11 the Hayward area comes together to honor veterans both from the town and from the Indian Reservation.  It is impressive to see.  The blue flags are the Lac Courte Oreilles  Indian Nation flag. 

Sunday Afternoon Boat Ride

It is a beautiful early fall afternoon.  Time for a simple boat ride - no fishing gear.  We saw several birds.  Lots of Mallards eating among the lily pads in the channel between our lake and the next one.

At one of the eagles' nests there was a juvenile (no white head yet) sitting above his/her nest (long dark spot in photo) waiting for a parent to return to possibly feed and keep company.  The juvenile who can fly just squawked for attention.  Parent was sitting in its usual spot 75 yards away (not in the picture.) I made the photo extra large so you can see the detail so you need to scroll around.

The Burp

We sat two pews behind a month old baby yesterday at church.  Of course, all in view were watching and admiring.  Grandmother gave him a bottle.  (Mother was attending to her 2 year old girl with a book.)  She then put him on her shoulder.  After a while we all heard a very loud burp.  Our section was smiling and chuckling.  Babies are a miracle.  Can't wait to burp our grandchild in November. 

Witches' Broom

Case and I were so excited to find a witches' broom on our property.  It is a mutation in an evergreen-type tree that some arborists use to graft onto other trees to make dwarf size evergreens.  We had an entire yard full of dwarf evergreens in Illinois.  No plans to graft it.  We will just enjoy it as is.  This is a balsam tree which are plentiful here.  Below is a picture of a natural branch to compare.

Baby Shower

There was a baby shower at the home of my daughter-in-laws parents.  A good time was had by all.  The cake says "Pink or Blue - We love you!"  She is 6 months along.

Baby clothes are soooooo cute!  (Tad's first cousin in the background.)  We are very excited to welcome our first grandchild. 

Things in Common

Yesterday was the birthday of Gene Roddenberry - creator of Star Trek.  We both loved that television show before we met.  It was one of the first things that we discovered that we had in common.  We watched a couple of episodes in memory of him.  Thanks, Gene!

Polish Fest - Minneapolis

Here we are at Polish Fest held on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis.  Lucyna drove north from Iowa to join us.  The entertainment was fun.  The food was FABULOUS! 

Dragonflies

We do so enjoy the hatch of the dragonflies in early summer.  They are welcome visitors who eat mosquitoes and other insects.  Sometimes a group of dragonflies come on a walk with us because we draw the mosquitoes!  Beautiful, delicate creatures.

Views from the Kayak

The first view is from our bay - Steamboat Bay looking toward the main part of our thousand acre plus lake - Lost Land Lake.  The second view is looking down into the water along the shore.  The lake has naturally occurring tannin from certain trees making the water brown in color and not being able to see very far down.

The shadow is my paddle.  You can see the reflection of a tree on the right and a cloud reflection in the upper right.

Musical Rocks

When I kayak, I usually paddle by an outcropping of rocks in the middle of our bay.  We have seagulls on these rocks even though we are an hour from Lake Superior.  There are approximately 30 rocks above the water and the gulls like to play "Musical Rocks."  Here's how they play.  One new gull will arrive and land on an already occupied rock, forcing the gull on the rock to take flight to another rock, which is already occupied.  So the gulls continue to change rocks until one gull is without a rock and then flies away.  The gull may head to another lake or more likely circle around to start the game again.

Because I came close for a picture, several were startled and took flight.  I normally watch the game at a distance.

Water Lilies

I have decided to be daring and take photos while I'm kayaking.  The white flowers on the water are...wait for it..."White Water Lily."  That is the official name in the Wisconsin Wildflower Book.  Sometimes Wisconsin people can be so unimaginative.  The second photo is the small creek "Davis Creek" where I like to hang out.  It is only big enough for kayaks.

We're Still Alive and Kickin'

Case had planned outpatient surgery on July 3 at the VA in Minneapolis.  After the surgery and 3 visits to the emergency room (no one's fault - Case had a reaction to the anesthesia), we are at home and on the mend. 

Only one funny anecdote from this whole thing:  I noticed a very sweet little candy striper while waiting in pre-op.  She walked over and started talking to Case.  She was his surgeon.

This was our first experience at a VA facility (Case served in the Air Force 1974-76).  Veterans are treated well I am very happy to report.  

Summer Flowers

Finally, it is summer and the flowers are blooming.  I have forgotten the name of this flower.  However, I do remember that it was advertised that the deer won't eat it.  That is true...otherwise there would be no flowers, no leaves, only a few roots left.

A Bear - Wish I had a Photo

Early one morning on the way to town, I saw a large black bear slowly crossing the road.  Of course, all traffic stops to watch (2 cars).  Didn't have a camera to capture the moment but I will certainly remember.  It is still a thrill to see wildlife.

Rounding the Bases

It was my Sunday to read the Bible at church.  I arrived early and settled in.  Unfortunately, I forgot to check if a deacon was there to carry in the Bible.   As the music started for the processional one of the ushers came to me and said,  "You need to carry in the Bible.  There isn't a deacon to carry it....you can run."  So I jump up from my pew - second row on a side aisle - and run toward the back of the church, round one set of pews, round the baptismal font, take a hand off of the Book without breaking stride and round to the center aisle to slide between the altar servers and the priest who had already started down the aisle.  Then I process in...reverently.  Gosh, church can be exciting!

To continue the baseball theme...I paid money at the Hayward Musky Fest this weekend to throw a baseball.  I had three tries for a dollar.  After the first throw I decided that I definitely throw like a girl.  Second one was better.  For the third one the radar clocked me at 26 mph.  I was rather proud of myself.  I won a Tootsie Roll - the big size. 

Quilt Show

A few friends and I attended the Minnesota State Quilt Show - this year held in Duluth.

It was aweing - some techniques I could never master.  It was surprising - how creative people can be for this textile medium.   It was inspiring - to get a few ideas. The one I am showing won several awards.  It was bigger than a king-sized bedspread.  The photo doesn't do justice.

Mother Turtle

Mother Turtle is late laying her eggs.  Usually we see her in May.  She showed up this afternoon.  As of this writing she has dug 4 holes in our driveway and numerous ones in our grass. 

It has been raining so her shell is quite shiny.

Part of My Walking Group

Recently, I hosted the Tuesday Walking Group - Women of the Woods and Water (WOWWs) at my house.  We walked a brisk 4 miles, returning to our bag lunches and a dessert I made:  Blondies.   Twenty-six of the group had taken a 3 day trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior.  The rest of us needed to stay in the Hayward area, but we wanted to continue the Tuesday morning tradition.  We called ourselves - WOWWs South - for the day. 

Banderdinker

Banderdinker is a made up word for a Hayward celebration of paddle sports, especially kayaking.  Last Saturday 291 of us paddled 5 miles on Nelson Lake.  I was quite tired at the end but the effort was worth it.  I am proud that I was able to complete it.  I went with some friends from my walking group.

Lined up ready to launch...my kayak is the pink one in the middle.

My shirt is made of a special material that keeps out the bad sun rays.  Water gloves help with my arthritis to grip the paddle.  A girl has to do what a girl has to do.

Participants could come in costume or funny hat.  I didn't.  However, the person to my near right in the blue kayak has a sock monkey on her hat. 

First Lady of Wisconsin

When the First Lady of Wisconsin - Tonette Walker - decided to walk a trail near my house this morning, I decided to join her.  She promotes tourism around the state by staging "Walk with Walker" events.  Today was her 25th walk.  The walk was along the Birkie ski trail near our house, famous for the February event with 12,000 cross country skiers. 

There were probably 50 people walking along.  Definitely a photo opportunity...

                                         Jo and Tonette - BFF - Yes, she does have her hand around my waist.
 

Polygala - Spring Wildflower

This wildflower is new to me and I have only seen it here in northern Wisconsin.  It is called Polygala, only a few inches tall and usually near a base of a tree.  I love the color!  This is 12 feet from our door. 

The Couple That Logs Together...

...Stays Together

Case is wearing a hard hat, face screen, noise protection for ears, steel toe boots and Kevlar chaps that will stop a running chainsaw.  I was told that I am too delicate to run a chainsaw so I am merely lifting the cut logs.  LOL   Also, note that we are both wearing black and white flannel shirts - coincidence.  The best part is that the tree is on our neighbor's land...with his permission.

Changing Blog Format

A picture is worth a thousand words.  I wonder who said that originally?  I have decided to change to pictures for the retirement blog. 

Here we are on our 37th wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago.  The watercolor above the couch was painted by a good friend of ours.  We wanted to capture our "Foxy" who is still around. 

Ice and Snow Melted

Finally, I have surfaced.  I did not sign up for 6 months of snow and ice.  We have had back to back unusual winters.  Last year was one of the shortest and this was the longest.  We are looking for normal next year.  What's been going on...

• I am now in official retirement.  Stopped my 8 hour a week job.  It was getting in the way of fun things I want to do.  I was there over 2 years.  When we first moved here, having a job helped me to organize my week. Now I am so involved with community and church that I no longer need that.
• Kayaked yesterday for the first time this year.  Great to be back in the "saddle."
• Spent 3 days in mid May at a Birding Conference.  Because we had no leaves yet this year, it was easy to spot them.  We also saw bird banding, a flying squirrel flying, and salamanders.
• Attended a quilting show in Beaver Dam and bought a lot projects for the future.  Great to meet other fabricoholics like myself.  Thanks, JB.    
• Mother's Day weekend Tad and Carrie and her parents visited.  I think we spent the entire time thinking of serious and silly names for our first grandchild (for both sets of grandparents). 
• And, I guess that means, I am announcing that Case and I will be grandparents in November!
• Visited Lucyna in Iowa and she visited here.  She was here on a Tuesday and got to meet my "posse"  that I hike/snowshoe/kayak with all year.
• Wished Tad Happy 26th birthday and the next day...
• Celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary!
• Last Monday our Lions Club hosted all the 3rd graders in the county at the Chippewas Flowage to learn about Water Habitat Study Day.  All about fishing and the lakes.  Good service project for our club and our specific area.
•  I am adding to the list of activities for the women of our church.  We now have a Prayer Shawl Ministry group.  With so many on the prayer list, they will be quite busy. 

Even though the weather was crummy, I was still busy and having fun.  

We have gotten our money's worth.

Dateline:  April 23, 2013 - 17 miles east of Hayward, WI

10 inches of snow fell last night.  Schools are closed - even the school in the town of Winter is closed.  So...Winter is closed.  I wish it were closed.  Winter is open and thriving here.  Two of the spring sports teams haven't even suited up:  baseball and soccer.  The track team had two indoor meets.  (Watch out in the bleachers for the shotput or discus coming your way.)   We trying to be positive.  I have finished a quilt.  We are working on spring cleaning.  Once spring is here - who wants to clean?  Anyway, this is a minor inconvenience when I think of people whose homes are flooded around the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.  Or those who are recovering from a bombing or the families of those who aren't going to recover. 

Let it snow.  Let it snow.  Let it snow.  We have gotten our money's worth of Northwoods weather.  We're retired so we don't need to tackle it and then put in a day at work. 

Saturday's predicted high:  50

The Blog You Have Been Waiting to Hear from the Northwoods

Spring is very late this year.  Locals can't remember when it was this late.  Many people go away for March and return in April when Spring is suppose to return.  These folks are walking around in a daze.  Those of us who stayed have hidden away the kitchen cutlery for our own protection.  Last Saturday, it rained and sleeted all day.  Scheduled to read at church Saturday evening, in town I went.  (Case was at our son's house.) During the one hour at church, it started to snow.  Then I went to Walmart for the weekly food supply.  During the one hour in the store, the truck got covered with snow.  Covered.  Yesterday I was in town for errands.  I knew most of the shopkeepers.  "Did you hear the weather report?" they would say with this look on their faces.  Think Jack Nicholson at the end of The Shining. Weather says there is a winter storm warning because 6-10 inches are expected with lots of wind.  The lake still has over 20 inches of ice.

And that's why you don't live in the Northwoods. 

A Good Friday

I was awoken to the sound of birds.  Not my two Lovebirds chirping for breakfast.  No, these were outside and very close and not familiar to me.  What a thrill to see a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers!  (You know that I am "for the birds" in the Northwoods when I am happy for a new sighting!)  They are not rare around here but I have not actually seen any in my 2 1/2 years in residence.  They are crow-sized, mainly black with a few white markings, and act like woodpeckers drumming on dead trees.  The exciting part is that they have a bright red mohawk of feathers on the top of their heads.  Wow!  I see where they have been when I am hiking in different parts of the county - they hollow out a tree, leaving a huge pile of wood shavings at the base.  It is distinctive.  Well, now I've seen Pileated Woodpeckers for myself!

It was also a Good Friday at church today at noon.  There was a reading of the Passion of Christ by several people.  I was the voices for Peter and Pilate.  Obviously, I was the last one to sign up.  Nonetheless, the church was full and we were glad we went. 

Spring is in the Air!

The sun was shining brightly in a cloudless sky as I walked on my daily constitutional. Spring is definitely in the air...a small woolly worm was crossing the road...the pussy willows are showing its buds.  I can forget that the ice on the lake is still thick enough to drive on.  And the snow in the woods is still knee-high.  What is the saying?  Hope springs eternal.  I came home and looked at my seed catalogs.

The Happy Couple

Our church held a "Faithfully Yours" marriage encounter all day yesterday.  There were lots of good sessions.  The one I really looked forward to was renewing our vows.  This was the first time to renew them since the original time May 22, 1976. 

The bride wore white (turtleneck).  The groom wore a formal flannel shirt.  Folks, this is March in the Northwoods.

The photographer got artsy.                     We do have a silhouette photo like this after our wedding.

Lady 'Canes

The Hayward High School girls, that's right, girls hockey team won the championship game over Onalaska (near LaCrosse).  That makes them number 1.  All the schools (all grades) took a couple of days off to go to Madison to watch the final game.  An anonymous donor picked up the tab for the bus so the students only had to pay their way into the game.  The nickname of the schools is the Hurricanes (don't ask) but most of the time, especially in the newspaper headlines, they are referred to as 'Canes.  This is very exciting for a little town like Hayward. 

We Booked

And we will book no more.  We are suffering the aftereffects of playing a younger person's game.  I walk 8K once a week but on solid ground not snowshoes.  The course was much to be desired.  Case ended up taking off his skiis and walking his way across the finish line.  At least the stars were bright and the entertainment along the way, and the band in the victory tent was good.  This event will be listed on the category:  Been There, Done That.

Walking Lake Superior

Guess what I am doing...snow shoeing across Lake Superior...at night.

Oh, the crazy things that go on in the Northwoods.   On Saturday evening I (along with 4,000 of my closest friends) will be snowshoeing 6 miles across a small bay of Lake Superior.  The ice is 30 inches thick.  There are 3 food/comfort stations along the way on the ice.  The entire route is lit with 1,000 ice luminary.  Case, of course, is taking the skiing route that parallels the snowshoe route.  It is called "Book Across the Bay." 

Alive and Kicking in the Northwoods

The good part is that the procedure is over and recovery is going as expected.  Today I am going to finish my taxes. 

The last two blog entries are to let you know that retiring in the Northwoods isn't ALL fun and games...just most of the time. 

Another blog entry of: he retired too early

I have another dental procedure - extraction of a tooth with a root canal that split.  It can't be saved and it can't stay because it is really bothering me so out it goes.  Argh!  Another retired dentist in the area recommended an oral surgeon that he used...so off to Rice Lake - 75 minutes away...instead of driving 5 minutes away to oral surgeons who I know by first names.  Life in the Northwoods.

SUPERBOWL

Even though the Packers weren't in the game, I enjoyed it anyway.  Got to see Clay Matthews in a suit in the pre-game; lights going out was fun; game was close; watching a man in full football gear make a confetti angel on the field was a nice finish. 

Al, the mailman

Here in the Northwoods you can still call the letter carrier a mailman.  There is a woman who delivers it on Saturday.  Everyone just calls her the "sub" or "late" because she isn't as quick as Al.  If there is an over-sized package, he drives the quarter mile lane and 1 big hill to deliver it to our door.  This happens often because we have taken to the internet to procure supplies:  special food for our birds, gifts from catalogs, car parts, etc.  Sometimes it comes by UPS, FEDEX or a shlock outfit called Speedy Delivery (Not).  Most of the time it is the United States Postal Service - in our case - Al.  He doesn't wear the uniform or drive the special truck with blue and red signage.  He sports a handlebar mustache that curls on the ends.  And he drives a Buick.  To manage in the Northwoods, the rest of us have trucks, or SUV's,  a 4 wheel drive of some kind - probably with bags of sand in the back for weight.  Not Al.   He drives a 1994 Buick sedan.  Never been stuck.  Always delivers on time.  Goes up and down some crazy lanes like ours.  A Buick.  I guess that is what I need to shop for next time.  

We Won!

Hayward was the "winner" in today's temperature contest in Wisconsin.  We were at -23 degrees this morning.  We beat out Tomahawk, which was just -20. 

It stopped the outdoor activities but not jumping in the truck and going to town for lunch!






















































it

Missing a Shelf

We realize we did buy a side by side refrigerator with water/ice in the door at the very low end of the range of prices...but missing a shelf?  I set up the inside the way I wanted it.  Wait a minute!  Where am I to put the eggs, short casserole pans and small left over containers?  This will never do.  I guess that is why it was so cheap...it can't be used!  So Case gets on the trusty internet and orders an additional shelf...at the tune of $96.  (He did shop around.  Some sites wanted $150.)  Now my low profile stuff have a spot. 

Missing a Stooge

The two Stooges arrived late Friday afternoon with a new white refrigerator in the back of their truck.  <We would not recommend any GE product at this point.  GE has repaired/replaced this frig 3 times for 5 years until it is now out of warranty so we had to buy a new one...not GE.>  Actually, it started out on a good note.  They came to the door and said they had a stove for us.  Laughter all around.  But I got him back.  When the frig was sitting smack in the middle of the kitchen, I say to Case,  "Honey, didn't we order a black one?"  Laughter all around. 

They unboxed and uncrated it in the snow-filled drive.  When they removed the old one and then brought in the new one, they kept saying to one another,  "You have to watch that side.  No, you have to watch that side."  We still have standing walls and doorjambs, I am happy to say.  For the installation and leveling, etc. the newer stooge kept taking tools back to the truck before the head stooge was done.

I am grateful that all 3 Stooges didn't show. 

Don't Usually Do This

I rarely forward jokes, stories, etc.  But this one was a fun quiz.  And you know how I enjoy maps, geography and that sort of thing...so if you are in the mood....

GuessTheSpot.com

Let's just say that I got a very good score!

Our New Year's Resolutions

Since New Year's Eve 1994 Case and I began developing a list of sorts.  Each of us write down a wish, a prediction, and a resolution for the coming year.  The resolution is the only one within our control.  It can be about ourselves, family members or national news items.  Of course, before we work on the coming year, I bring out last year's list to see how it turned out.  It is a quiet way of taking stock of things.  I think both children have continued the tradition. 

(I keep the list in our taxes file so I remember where it is.)

Git 'er Done!

I called our TV channel provider to change our package.  Kimberly says, "You're not the one listed on the account."  I reply, "We've been married 36 years.  Everything that is his is mine. But he is right here if you need to talk to him."  I yell in some kind of accent, "Sugarcakes! She don't believe me that we've been married 36 years!"   Case takes the phone and adds me as an authorized user for the account.  I know we had done that before.  Anyway, he hands the phone back.  I tell Kimberly, "I told you so.  You didn't believe me.  Change the package."  That felt great!

Bucket List

This fall I said to several people.  "The word bucket list is overused and I wish that people would stop saying it.  It is annoying."  With the year end list of banned words for 2012 published, I have been verified in print.  So, everyone, stop using bucket list. 

Happy New Year!

Go Badgers!